A 16 year old girl, Barakat Mayowa has accused Abiodun Abdul-Balogun, the Commissioner of Environment in Ogun State of sexual harassment.
The incident was said to have occurred at Ita Otu, Ogun Waterside Local Government Area of the state.
Mayowa recounted the Commissioner had invited her to his residence, where he allegedly fondled her breasts and muttered incantations while she screamed and struggled to free herself from his grip.
The victim, in her confession to the police at the Abigi Division, stated that the sexual harassment happened on the 31st of December. She stated that the commissioner’s aides had lured her to his house.
In a statement she made at the Police Station, she said, “What transpired between me and honourable (the commissioner) is that on December 29, which was a Tuesday, I was on my way to register for my National Identity Number. I came across the man who happened to be a commissioner at the Waterside Park. I was with a friend”.
“So, he called me and said he knew me from somewhere. I said No, he said, I resembled someone he knew. He asked where I was living and I told him. Then I left”.
She further stated that “He sent a young man after me to get my number. I said no, that my father’s elder brother stays in the park and that he should get my number from him”.
“On December 31, one Mr Lasisi came to my grandparents’ place in the area, and said he knew someone who needed a computer operator and asked if I knew how to operate a computer. I said yes. Then he said I should get dressed and that we would go together to the place”.
“When we got there, it was the honourable’s house. A lady, Maryam Odunnuga, came and took me into a living room.
Mayowa further stated that the commissioner tried to entice her with money to get a chance to sleep with her but she resisted.
She said, “The honourable locked the door instantly and put the key in his pocket. So, he moved close to me and asked for the name of my school. He also asked for the amount I was paying as school fees, I replied by saying N30,000. He asked me who was paying my school fees, I told him my daddy. He said if I had thought of starting a business before going to school.
“I said I wanted to go to a higher institution. Then he said if I would need some money now, how much would I need? I said, any amount. He said I should state an amount. He now moved closer and pressed my breasts. So, I moved his hand away. He now said won’t I cooperate. He now started pressing my breasts and my body”.
“I was struggling to free myself from him. Then he started reciting some incantations. He wanted to touch my head. I now moved his hand away so that he should not touch my head. He now wanted to force me inside his bathroom.
“But I struggled with him and started shouting. He did not want people around his house to know what was going on. He now left me and gave him four, N500 notes, that is N2,000 as my transport fare. I rejected the money”.
“He said if I didn’t collect the money, he would not let me go. So, I collected it. He now asked someone to drop me in our house. I want Nigerians to help me to take up this matter against him. This had never happened to me in my life. Right now, I am so shocked. I had never been harassed like that in my life.”
Her statement was also recorded in a video, which has since gone viral.
The Commissioner could however not be reached.
